Written by

Larry Phillips

CentralOhio.com

BUFFALO — The guy came to town with a big reputation, and only enhanced it after he left.

Buffalo senior linebacker Khalil Mack was touted as a future pro, and he looked like one, almost single-handedly keeping the Bulls in the thick of a 40-20 decision at Ohio Stadium.

Mack terrorized the Buckeyes, and particularly right tackle Taylor Decker, racking up 2.5 sacks and returning an interception for a 45-yard touchdown.

“The guy that played, was it 46, I just know where he played. I can see him standing out there, a really, really good player,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said.

Mack finished as his team’s leading tackler, and nearly made the play of the day.

In the third period, the 6-foot-3, 248 pounder beat the Buckeyes around the corner, flushed quarterback Braxton Miller, sacked and stripped him at the OSU 1. But Buffalo was called for a hands-to-the-face penalty that negated what would have been a monster turn of events with the score sitting at 30-20.

“We knew we would fight until the end, regardless of what happened,” Mack said. “But I really think that would have changed the game. That was a big blow, but we fought back.”

The Bulls spent the day rallying from a 23-0 first-quarter deficit. Ohio State scored touchdowns on its first three possessions, and tacked on a pair of two-point conversions after the first two TDs.

Buffalo steadied after that barrage, and the Buckeyes never found a consistent offensive groove again.

“That’s part of leadership,” said Mack, a senior from Fort Pierce, Fla. “You have to calm down and get your team together, especially when the other team has that kind of momentum.”

While they never turned it into a one-score affair, the Bulls ran just one less play than Ohio State (68-67, and stayed close enough to keep the fans from leaving early.

“I was proud of the way our kids responded,” Bulls coach Jeff Quinn said. “We were able to outscore them in the second, third and fourth quarters.”

Buffalo quarterback Joe Licata had an efficient day, hitting 19 of 32 passes for two scores.

“We don’t feel good losing, but there are a lot of positives that came out of this,” Licata said. “It was a great learning experience.”

Receiver Alex Neutz collected nine catches for 98 yards and a 10-yard TD. Running back Oliver Branden added 76 yards and helped keep the OSU offense off the field. But clearly Mack was the showpiece of the Bulls’ roster.

“His presence was noticed without a doubt and against quality opposition,” Quinn said. “He did a great job, was very active and played a ton of snaps. I could not have been more proud of his play on such a big stage.”